"Nothing could have served my purpose better, than to have drawn this illuminating flash out of the thunders," &c., &c.--_Vide Duke of Argyll's Letter to The Times, and his Letter to Somebody who had drawn his Grace's attention to Mr. Gladstone's Snowdon Speech._ * * * * * MEM. FROM WHITBREADFORDSHIRE.--Sir BLUNDELL MAPLE is reported to have said, "I'll give you a good tip. Back _Duke_--and my horses for the Cambridgeshire." New Carpet Knight not successful as a sporting tipster, seeing that Colonel DUKE, though he fought well, was beaten. Perhaps Sir BLUNDELL meant _the Duke_, who races every night at Drury Lane. That's a very good tip, as safe as houses--Drury Lane houses, of course. * * * * * A CITY PARADOX. Our City Aldermanic lights Who talk (and live) a trifle high, In stern defence of civic rights Profess themselves prepared to die. And yet the Aldermanic crowd-- It's amply true, say what you will-- With open eyes have just allowed The Mayoralty to come to KNILL! * * * * * "HABITUAL DRUNKARDS COMMITTEE."--An awful-looking heading to a paragraph! What a picture the imagination may conjure up of a Committee of Habitual Drunkards! There would be the Honble. TOM TOPER, Lord SOTT, SAM SOKER, Marquis of MOPPS and BROOMS, Captain FUDDLE, DICK SWIZZLER, R.N., FRANK FARGONE (of the _Daily Booze_), with TITE ASA DRUMM in the Chair, or if not, under the table with the others. * * * * * CONVERSATIONAL HINTS FOR YOUNG SHOOTERS. (_BY MR. PUNCH'S OWN GROUSE IN THE GUN-ROOM._)